The following Press Release was issued by the Alliance for Green Socialism and explains why the Hull & East Yorkshire Socialist Alliance cannot support the RESPECT slate in the June 2004 Euro Elections.
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Alliance for Green Socialism
The Green-Left alternative to New Labour
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Thursday 6 May 2004
RESPECT candidate wants to put women’s rights back forty years says AGS
The Alliance for Green Socialism has fiercely criticised the Respect Unity Coalition for abandoning women’s equality and other basic principles of progressive and socialist politics in an apparent attempt to attract religious voters in the Yorkshire & Humberside region.
The AGS, which is standing its own Euro-candidates in the region, has pointed out that the Respect regional list in the Euro-election is headed by someone who does not appear to be a socialist and who belongs to a reactionary religious political party opposed to progressive, secular policies and who wants to roll back the gains made in the struggle for sexual equality in Britain, including the right of women to have an abortion if they do not wish to have a child.
The Respect Euro-election list in the region is headed by Anas Altikriti - who would be elected if they gained enough votes to win a seat in the European Parliament. Mr Altakriti is a leading member of the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) which recently issued a Press Release (text appended) welcoming statements by Respect MP George Galloway opposing women’s rights to abortion and calling for a greater role for God and religious faith in politics.
AGS the ONLY choice available to green-socialists in Yorkshire & Humberside.
AGS spokesman Steve Radford stated:
As Green Socialists we try to maintain good relations with socialists and environmentalists in all parties. Normally we would seek to co-operate with them and campaign together on issues where we have common ground. However, the Respect Unity Coalition includes people who appear to reject the most basic aspects of progressive, socialist politics and who seek to restrict people’s rights (especially women’s rights) on the basis of religious belief. Socialists, by definition, believe in a secular society and appealing to voters on the basis of religious sectarianism is totally against all progressive principles.
Mr Altikriti’s only point of agreement with progressive socialists and the green-left seems to be his opposition to the invasion of Iraq and, while he is right on this important issue, this is not enough to ask for the support of electors who have a range of concerns. There are individual members of the Tory Party who have opposed the invasion of Iraq but no socialist or left-wing environmentalist could possibly vote for them – nor should they vote for Mr Altikriti. We have no problems in supporting Muslims, Christians or people of any religious faith if they share our belief in progressive and secular policies – but Mr Altikriti does not seem to qualify on this basis.
AGS national Chairman Mike Davies added:
Progressive environmentalists, socialists and those who believe in a secular society, sexual equality and a woman’s right to choose must look at the range of policies put forward by candidates. Mr Altakriti clearly does not deserve the support of such voters. Anyone in Yorkshire & Humberside who wishes to see their representative in the European Parliament advocating genuine green-socialist principles and policies should vote for the Alliance for Green Socialism.
Ends
Notes for editors:
1. Press enquiries to S. Radford, Press Officer, Tel. 07963 883799
E-mail heysa@lycos.co.uk
2. AGS membership and other enquiries to NEA 1560, Rotherham, S61 2BR.
3. The Alliance for Green Socialism was formed in 2002 through a merger of the Yorkshire-based Left Alliance and the former Green Socialist Network. It has members throughout the UK and includes various local affiliated organisations.
4. The Respect Unity Coalition is an alliance primarily between the Socialist Workers’ Party, the MP George Galloway and the MAB.
5. The AGS is standing Euro-election candidates in Yorkshire & Humberside and contesting seats on Leeds City Council in the June elections.
6. The MAB Press Statement is reproduced below.
Muslim Association of Britain Press Release issued 23.04.04
Muslims back Galloway pro-life stand
The Muslim Association of Britain welcomes comments made by George Galloway MP on abortion in an interview published recently.
Mr Galloway who is currently leading the newly formed ‘Unity Coalition; Respect’ into the forthcoming European Parliamentary Elections on the 10th of June, outlines his own conviction that abortion is morally and ethically wrong. When asked about the woman’s right to choose, he appropriately posed the question: ‘what about the child’s right to choose?’.
These comments, as well as his statements on faith and God in the same interview, will surely be welcomed by British Muslims who see Respect as a real alternative to the main political parties in the approaching European elections. They also affirm George Galloway’s standing as a man of principle who does not shy away from putting his own position on the line for his beliefs and convictions.
End.
For interviews and further information please contact:
Mr Ihtisham Hibatullah: 07786 257120
Head of Media
Footnote: The former President of the Muslim Association of Britain, Anas Altikriti, stood down in March to fight the European Elections as candidate for ‘Respect’ in Yorkshire and Humberside. MAB has called on all Muslims throughout the region to back Mr. Altikriti and his fellow Respect candidates.